"Can Your Robot See Straight"
In our last post, we discussed key operational details Enterprise IT should make itself aware of concerning Plant and Engineering before it's time to shutter plants and lay off technical staff.
1. Calibration
Equipment that measures how much, how big, how many, or dimensions has to be calibrated on a regular schedule (or after events) and this is best done by outside specialists. You’ve seen these requirements with “calibration” stickers on supermarket scales and on gasoline pumps. Calibration requirements are also present for product certifications for parts suppliers, for material suppliers, and for industries like medical and defense.
2. Certification
Certification requirements are often present for equipment that is in use to protect life and health. Examples: Ventilators (medical), Respirators (plant), Detectors (environmental), and alarms (safety, security). Certification is also present for systems where alarms, sensors, or critical record-keeping is done.
3. Qualification
Sometimes referred to as “alignment” or “registration” this is ensuring that the physical movement of equipment (robotics, material handling, automated vehicles, etc) is done with the required precision and that the positioning matches the applications’ requirements. Mechanical wear, sensor replacement, or lots of other factors interfere with qualification and alignment for equipment that usually has mechanical, computer-controls, and sensors.
Usually, enterprises keep a schedule, budget, and list of suppliers/vendors that perform these services on a regular basis. When personnel changes not under the control of enterprises (such as during the current economic downturn) – check TODAY if your enterprise is vulnerable.
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